His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 94

**TITLE: Betrayal Births**

**Chapter 94**

**Claire’s POV**

Naomi remained completely still, as if frozen in time.

I was just as motionless, trapped in this narrow gap between the stands and the entrance to the rink, our eyes locked in an unsettling silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Her face was an impassive mask, devoid of any emotion. No signs of confusion flickered across her features, nor did curiosity spark in her gaze. It was a blank stare, almost disinterested, almost chilling. My heart raced, a tightness coiling in my chest that I couldn’t quite decipher—was it the stress of the morning or something deeper, something more troubling?

I lifted my chin slightly, a gesture of defiance or perhaps an attempt to regain some control over the situation. I wanted to break the silence, to say something—anything—but the words eluded me, trapped somewhere deep inside.

Her gaze drifted past me, and instinctively, I followed it. At the far end of the rink, Elijah and his teammates were gathered, their laughter ringing out like music, their camaraderie palpable as they bumped fists and packed up their gear. The atmosphere around them was vibrant, electric, alive with energy. But then Naomi’s attention snapped back to me, her focus sharp enough to make my stomach churn.

A smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, and it wasn’t the friendly kind.

“I know you’re pretending to have forgotten everything,” she said, her voice low and unwavering, slicing through the silence like a knife.

My eyes widened in shock. “What?” I managed to stammer, the word barely escaping my lips.

“You heard me,” she replied, stepping closer, invading my personal space. The scent of her perfume hit me—sharp and crisp, a stark contrast to the tension hanging between us. Her expression remained unreadable, but that smirk deepened, cutting into me like a taunt. “You want to avoid dealing with what I said before the accident? That’s fine. But don’t act like you don’t remember what truly matters.”

I blinked rapidly, frustration bubbling to the surface. A small, exasperated breath escaped me. “What are you even talking about?”

“Elijah,” she pronounced his name slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the taste of it. “He’s mine.”

My mouth fell open in disbelief. For a fleeting moment, I thought I might have misheard her. “I—excuse me? What?”

Her gaze remained unwavering, unyielding. She didn’t repeat herself; she didn’t have to. My entire body tensed, confusion morphing into irritation. My heart raced again, this time with a sharpness that made my jaw clench. I let out a frustrated huff and stepped around her, not bothering to look back.

As I reached the edge of the rink, Elijah spotted me, his face lighting up with a bright grin as he lifted a hand in greeting. The tension in my chest began to ease. He glided over, pushing his helmet back, his cheeks flushed from the exertion.

“You survived the cold,” he exclaimed, breathless and buoyant.

“I did,” I replied, forcing my shoulders to relax. “And you were amazing out there.”

“Obviously,” he said with a mock air of confidence, a playful glint in his eyes. His teammates called out his name from behind him, and he waved at them before turning back to me. “Just give me two minutes. I need to return the gear.”

“I’ll wait,” I assured him, watching as he disappeared into the equipment room.

As I made my way toward the main entrance of the rink, Leo spotted me halfway and jogged over, his hair damp with sweat, a wide smile plastered on his face.

“You good?” he asked, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Yeah,” I replied, a smile creeping onto my face. “You didn’t tell me you played.”

He let out a snort of laughter. “You never asked.”

“Well, you were really good too,” I complimented, and I could see a hint of color rise to his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck, flattered.

“Thanks. And hey, good job today,” he said, his tone sincere. “You handled the presentation meltdown better than most people would.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I did not handle it well at all.”

“You didn’t cry. That counts for something,” he replied with a grin.

Just as I was about to respond, Elijah reappeared, now changed into fresh clothes with a bag slung casually over his shoulder. He nudged Leo’s arm as he approached me.

“We heading out?” he asked, glancing between us.

“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Let’s go.”

Leo waved us off, heading toward the lockers as Elijah held the door open for me. We stepped into the warmth of the hallway, a pleasant contrast to the chill we had just left behind.

The walk home was enveloped in a comfortable silence. The evening air outside the school was cool yet inviting, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. My body felt tired, but not in a burdensome way—more like a deep, satisfying relief after a long day. Elijah walked close beside me, our hands brushing occasionally, and though I didn’t reach for him, I didn’t pull away either.

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